Pick Me Up! 07-Apr-2016

What A Hoarder My friend Jo moved out of our flat, after living with us for five months. And I benefited from her beauty-product clearout before she moved..! What A Relief After almost a year of doing up our home, room-by-room, we’ve reached the final hurdle – phew! We’ll be laying down the paintbrushes and cracking open the bubbly any day now. What A Star I’m a volunteer dog- walker for little Trouble, as his owner’s no longer able to take him out. If you’re a dog-lover, too, go to www.lifedeathprizes.com and search ‘waggy tail’ to take our quiz. 12...  …that’s how many medals my friend Sarah has got for her running achievements over the past year – wow! What A Pro! This is my sister Sam, with her son…

Little STAR My son Ralph was a pageboy at my sister’s wedding. He’s nearly 3 and already a very sharp-dressed lad! Paul Rabey, Grays Get fit Buddy’s got his legwarmers on and is waiting for the treadmill to start, so he can shape up for summer. Susan Robinson, Stoke-on-Trent Fish face! My hubby John having a whale of a time in Paris… Tracey Johnson, Carlisle Prickly pressie Pedro was a lovely gift from our grandchildren on our wedding anniversary seven years ago. He’s still hanging on to his hat, barely! J Cope, Ripley Sea view The shoreline of Cornwall is just stunning. All that’s missing is Poldark! Christine Bartram, Heanor Sunny spot We loved the beautiful coastal town of Nerja in Spain so much that we’re heading back there next…

‘I woke up to find him on all fours, eyes wide in terror’ When I got together with my Paul, I didn’t think he’d have any deep, dark secrets. We’d been close since school and had got together when I was 21 and he was 19. He wasn’t fazed by the fact I had a 3-year-old son, and he loved Nathan as if he was his own. Paul could be shy, but it never felt like he was hiding anything from me. Until the first time he stayed over. I woke up in the middle of the night to find him on all fours, eyes wide in terror. ‘Help me! Help me!’ he bellowed, petrified. ‘It’s OK,’ I told him. ‘You’re having a nightmare.’ Next morning, we had a laugh…

‘He was soon using more than cruel words to hurt me’ When a pal first suggested I try online dating, I wasn’t keen at all. But I was shy, struggled to meet men. So in October 2008, I signed up to a dating site. To begin with, I wished I hadn’t. The minute I put my profile on, dozens of guys started sending naked pictures of themselves. ‘They’re all so sleazy!’ I groaned. But then, I got a message from Kenny. He seemed different. For a start, he was fully dressed in all his pics! Plus, he was handsome, polite, fun to chat to. Just a really nice guy. The only thing that niggled me was the age gap. I was 20, Kenny was 35. But as we carried on…

Cut out pictures from used greeting cards, puncture a hole and then thread clothes ribbons through them to make gift tags. Rosina Thorn, Birmingham By sewing pearl buttons on these scrap leather strips and fringing the ends, I made these groovy bookmarks! Teresa Lloyd, South London Don’t waste money on expensive bike-cleaning brushes. An old toothbrush will clean dirt from chains and gears just as efficiently. James Stronach, Selby Keep charging wires and plugs inside empty loo-roll tubes. Then label each one so you can find them quickly. Campbell Morgan, Dumbarton You’ll find it easier to grate lemon zest if you run your grater under cold water first. Judith Cairns, Colchester If your child’s cot bumper is no longer needed, stitch it together to make padded pillowcases. Jusna Ahmed, South…

1 Epic foil Put tinfoil under your ironing board cover – it reflects back more heat. Lisa Prince, Chipping Norton 2 Gentle scrub Has your iron got a ceramic plate? Then use toothpaste and a cloth to wipe it clean. Tracey Cannon, Glasgow 3 Flat out If your ironing cover has become flattened with use, put a towel underneath it. Helen Baldwin, L eeds 4 Stand-in The base of a warm hob kettle can be used to quickly iron out creases in your clothes! P Brown, Exeter…